An out of state colleague asked me what it was like here. I thought maybe some of my other friends would like to know, too.

It is wild.

My personal feelings have been of incredulity and anger that our political process has been stopped by a mob. It is absolutely shocking.

For those of you curious about other viewpoints from the regular press reports, I recommend the MacIver Institute's website, and Media Trackers. org. and WisconsinEye. Also don't miss the coverage by Wisconsin Reporter.com Their tweets have been the best coverage of the events. Eyewitness history. #wisconsinreport

The tea party plans to rally in support of Governor Walker. I don't know what kind of numbers they can amass, but frankly, I doubt they can come close to busloads of union thugs being shipped in from all over the country. Last night one Senator told me they had been told to clear the Capitol because the new groups coming in overnight are filled with with people "who aren't afraid to be arrested" and the Administration could not guarantee the safety of the legislators and their staffs. In our Capitol.

On Thursday, legislators were advised to return to their offices and lock their doors. Mobs roamed the halls, banging on the glass of the doors, pounding on the walls. No one could move in the halls or enter or leave the building. The glass of the Supreme Court's entrance was broken. Legislators were genuinely afraid. Our elected representatives were afraid. In our Capitol.

A young female reporter trying to get into the Senate chamber struggled to get through the crowd. She arrived disheveled and upset because she had been roughed up as she tried to get through "Bitch-slapped" the mob told her. A senior senator was spat on. A senator and his female staffer struggled to get into the capitol. He was worried about his staffer because the crowd was grabbing at her and pushing her. University Police were two arms lengths away and did nothing. They, of course, are union.

Everyone has heard the story of the Democrats fleeing the state (Our slogan: Wisconsin; Illinois is beneath us). Everywhere are signs comparing Walker to Hosni Mubarak. What is their end game? Overturning an election and seizing our government?

Protesters spent the night on the floor of the Capitol. A friend of mine said the entire place smelled when she walked in on Friday morning. There was garbage everywhere. This is one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the country. The mob had no respect for the place, for what happens there, or for the citizens whose freedoms it represents.

On the other hand, one of the freshmen (Republican) members of the assembly tells me that the leggies are united and have bonded in a way that would never have been possible in other circumstances. On Thursday night, behind locked doors she said, they wept, held hands, and prayed, vowing unity. Another Senator says she thinks the tide has turned. Another (Repub) answered in response to my question; "This is kinda fun!"

The Governor stands firm. I understand that there are strategies in place for next steps which will shake up the stalemate....I have known him for at least 15 years, but he is different now. He is a man who has met his time and his place, and he seems to know it.

“On Thursday, legislators were advised to return to their offices and lock their doors. Mobs roamed the halls, banging on the glass of the doors, pounding on the walls. No one could move in the halls or enter or leave the building. The glass of the Supreme Court’s entrance was broken. Legislators were genuinely afraid. Our elected representatives were afraid. In our Capitol.”

Honestly...the Tea Party members should just leave and let the commies burn the place down...show them who they really are and what they do. With them being there it will give the media all the ammo they need to say the Tea Party members came in and started violence.

I can see the writing on the wall here...this is going to get really ugly...really fast today. Time to call out the national guard.

5
posted on 02/19/2011 12:54:24 PM PST
by My Favorite Headache
(In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big.)

On Thursday, legislators were advised to return to their offices and lock their doors. Mobs roamed the halls, banging on the glass of the doors, pounding on the walls. No one could move in the halls or enter or leave the building. The glass of the Supreme Courts entrance was broken. Legislators were genuinely afraid. Our elected representatives were afraid. In our Capitol.

If the TEA Party held signs, a town would call out the SWAT team!

19
posted on 02/19/2011 1:11:52 PM PST
by GeronL
(The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)

“How civil, busing in thugs who aren’t afraid to assault and possible murder who are not afraid of jail.”

Let’s say a renta-thug commits murder. What is the liability of the unions who bussed in these guys? I would think they’d be taken to court and held accountable. Certainly, the prosecutor should do this. But, as usual, failing accountability from a politically run prosecutor’s office, maybe the surviving relatives?

When I was at the 912 event in DC the only SEIU renta-thugs who remained by the time all x million of us got down to the Capital were genuine bruisers. They kept their eyes and signs down, stood in a circle facing out and put in their time. They were most certainly men on the clock.

A guy at the gym where I work out was hired by the SEIU as a renta-thug, and bussed to DC from Tallahassee. He said they trained them to stand next to each other, lean forward and scream in people’s faces. Their orders were to “Get in their faces and force them to go away.” (They paid him $17/hr plus all meals, travel and accommodations.)

I'm with you. The Tea Party needs to hold firm. Anything that happens will be laid at their feet. Don't give the media the opportunity. What will protesting a Communist protest help? Call and email Walker and the legislature and let them know they have your support, but don't play into Obama's hands. He wants violence.

Were the Capitol Police in charge? If so, were they derelict in their duty? If not, were they totally outnumbered, in which case why weren't reinforcements called in? If there were, why not in sufficient numbers to handle the protestors? If the Capitol Police did their best but were stymied by someone higher up the food chain, who was it?

Governor I hope will give the teachers a time line, if you are not back to work come this date and time you will all be fired and replaced by those who are willing to work for half of what you make. If the legislature does not return immediatley for a vote there will be a special election held for your positions! Enough

According to all reports, the police are simply there, acting as a presence. Think about it...in the past four days, has anyone been arrested? I've heard no reports of arrests, and that has to have been the result of higher-ups ordering it.

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